Oh King, it is easy to find people who always talk in (your) favor. But people who speak or listen to - words not in favor, yet in your welfare - are rare to find.

Commentary:

Especially when one is in power or holding a political office, he is sure to find tons of 'yes sir', 'yes your highness', kind of people. Given that he is the man of authority, many a people in his cabinet of ministry, would not dare to oppose or say a word against him. Whether he takes a right step or a wrong one, people around would just nod and oblige, without expressing their honest opinions.

On the contrary, a person holding a high position has the most need of people around him, who are honest and have the courage to express it too! Rare are such people who dare to express their true opinions, keeping the welfare of the land in mind.

Even if the counselors council the person in power, chances are, he would not heed to them. As long as the words are spoken in favor of the listener, it is valued. But many a times, although a word is not favorable, it may be in the welfare of the better good. Rare are such people who would heed to such well intended words as well!

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. Speak with honesty and have courage to be honest.

Crows call other crows, but a cadger (beggar) never other cadgers. Between a crow and a cadger, a crow is a better choice, not a cadger.

Commentary:

When a crow finds a scrap of food, it makes a lot of noise and draws the attention of all other crows to the food. Obviously when other crows come, the food gets shared amongst all of them. The crow happily shares his find and is satisfied with whatever comes to his share.

Unlike the crow, when a scrounger asks for favors from others, he tries to dodge and deflect other such cadgers, so that he can get the maximum benefit. He wants to get as much from the giver and keep it all for himself!

If one has to compare between a crow and a cadger, isn't a crow much better? Being human, having better brains, he puts it to use in devious manipulative ways. But a bird, with a 'bird brain' (pun intended :), has a larger heart!

There is no delight in owning anything that is unshared! All for one, one for all - is the principle.

A being is born alone, will perish (die) alone. He enjoys the fruit of his good deeds alone, so also that of the bad ones alone.

Commentary:

A being is alone at birth and he dies alone. In between, during his life, he tries all possible tricks and trades to beat the loneliness, to avail no success. One might have numerous friends and family around him, but then, when he passes on, he goes alone. None can keep him company on the onwards journey, except, his vices and virtues.

If one did good deeds in his lifetime, he alone gets to reap the benefit of those virtues. He can not say, 'I think I have enough virtues in my share, may be I'll share some with my spouse', or, 'I have collected ample merits, I would love to leave it for my children as inheritance'!!

Likewise with vices too. One has to bear the brunt of his misdeeds all on his own as well. Just because he was corrupt in life, so that he could provide for his family, his family will not be the one to shoulder responsibility for those actions. He has to take it upon himself! He has no choice of taking it either. It comes with him automatically. He has to suffer alone as well.

Life is even more lonely when one doesn't know himself. When one enjoys his own company, that is the best bargain he could ever ask for!

Without tormenting others, without putting forth false modesty, without giving up the path of the noble, any little (achieved) is more.

Commentary:

Tormenting other beings, being dishonest, showing false submissiveness, trading off the very essence of dharma, one may think he has achieved everything in life. That might make him rich and comfortable too. But these benefits do not stay for long. Moreover, they do not bring any peace of mind. The mind is constantly busy, churning up devious plans to fool and cheat others.

Keeping the values, one may not climb mountains or reach the pinnacles of the noble, all at once. But any little achieved (without the above influences), is more! That gives him more clarity, purity and piety! Isn't that a much better reward than riches?

Anger is won over with calmness (without anger); the immoral are won with morale; a miser is won by giving; lies are won over with truth.

Commentary:

Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, then, limb for a limb, life for a life..... There is no solace inspite! This is no way to put an end to any kind of misery!

If one displays anger all the time and the onlooker continually keeps his calm, how long can the angry man keep his temper? He would feel like he is kicking his arms and legs against the air - no matter how much he tries, can't hurt the air :). Eventually, he shall learn to keep his calm, he has no choice. Anger is won over with calmness.

When immoral laws are exercised, they are won over with morality. Many independence struggles were based on this principle. Non-violence has sustained against violence. Good has triumphed over evil.

A miser is won over with generosity. If a miser is given and given without reservations, he is bound to get saturated at some point and understand the importance giving. Possessions are not for clinging on, but for putting it to good use for the welfare of those around. That is taught by giving.

Winning over lies is as simple as telling the truth! Honesty keeps the mind and soul peaceful. Lies do not stand a chance in front of it. Also, it is so much easier to be honest than not. When telling the truth, one doesn't have to remember anything! Don't have to keep track of all the lies or have the fear of being caught :). Moreover, truthfulness is the only way, when one's quest is the 'ultimate truth'. Truth is hence a win win situation for anyone.

Medicine, wealth, good counsel, intellect of the noble - nothing in this world exists that is impossible for these.

Commentary:

If there is a problem, there is a solution! Between medicine, wealth, good counsel and the intellect of the noble, every issue in the world can be addressed!!

What are the kinds of problems one might face -

Sickness - there is medicine for that.

Food, water, shelter, comforts - wealth can address that.

Stress, mental burdens - good counsel puts them to rest.

Day to day issues, or long term problems - none the intellect of the noble and wise can't tackle.

So, don't lose heart at the advent of troubles, keep the faith and use the right tool to beat it. Obviously one can't take medicine as a substitute to shelter :). But sometimes, when the issues are not so black and white, it takes prudence to decide the course of action.

Just as the fish by watching over, turtle through contemplation, birds by incubation, take care of their young, (people) should protect their children by keeping them in good company always.

Commentary:

Animals are known to give birth to their offspring and most, after a short period of nurture, leave them to fend for themselves. But during those nurturing stages, they take atmost care. As if there is nothing else in the world they would rather do!

The fish keep a constant watch over their eggs till they hatch.

The turtle, lay their eggs and be done with child care ;). But then, even they, carefully contemplate their predators and select a spot that is safest for them to lay their eggs. They dig a hole in a spot that best suits their young to grow and hatch.

Birds, incubate their eggs and protect them from harsh climatic conditions. They even feed and nurture them till their wings are mature enough to fly on their own. (Penguins are so amazing! Under the harshest and coldest circumstances, they make sure that the egg never touches the ground. They even walk carrying the egg on their feet. Because, if it touches the ground, the egg shall freeze and the young shall lose the battle of life!).

But then, all these - animals, bird and fish alike, let go of their young. A human is the only being who shelters, nurtures and pampers his offspring for the longest duration, mostly, his entire life as a parent! Is his job done if he builds a home and feeds his children? That would protect the children from harsh climates and starving alright. But being the being that he is ;), is that all he needs to do? Then how will he be any different from the animals? At the level that humans work, they don't need physical protection and food alone. They need intellectual and spiritual growth as well. Now, how is that done? By keeping them in good company always! This not only aids positively in the growth of the mind, it protects them from going in a negative path as well. It is a win win situation. Hence, at all costs, parents should strive to keep their children in good company always, beginning with themselves :).

No road is long with good company because, good company on the road is the shortest cut. Find your shortcuts and aid the children to find theirs ;).

He who is a fatalist and he who is stubborn - both are rogues. He who deems his deeds as his duties is laudable.

Commentary:

Fatalist - is someone who believes that everything is predetermined by fate and nothing can be altered! At the drop of a hat, he gives it up to fate. Without taking any responsibility for his actions, he succumbs and surrenders to anything that comes his way, in the name of destiny.

Stubborn - A person adamant about his own stance and view point, never yields to anyone else's opinions. He is right and he is right alone - he believes so much in himself that, he doesn't give room for his own further growth!

The author says, both such people are rogues! Blaming on fate and ducking away from responsibilities is not a choice, neither is being blind and adamant about ideas.

Only he who performs his deeds in the name of duties and a sense of duty alone, is commendable. No expectation of remuneration; no lame reasons given for either the success or failure of the tasks; readiness to learn and grow - all these become an integral part of one's personality, only when he performs cheerfully, in the name of duties. Hence he alone is commended.

Where the imbecile are not revered, where grain is abundantly collected, where there is no strife in matrimony - wealth comes there automatically.

Commentary:

Where does wealth accumulate? Where there is prosperity! Where is prosperity? In places where

1. The imbecile are not revered - that means, knowledge and education are valued. There is avenue for intellectual growth and may be due to the ambiance, even the imbecile get an opportunity to turn a new leaf!

2. Grain is collected abundantly - when everyone is fed and contented, a lot of trouble is warded off. Many crimes even happen due to scarcity of food. When there is abundance of grain, prosperity is only the next step. It also means that there is no squandering. There is prudence in spending and, saving for a rainy day is a priority.

3. No strife in matrimony - is very essential. A family is the basic unit of any society and, the master and lady of the house are the lead roles of the household. A constant tiff between them takes toll on the their responsibilities, the children and their education..., pretty much everything important! When these essential arenas are compromised, how can prosperity be expected? Harmony between the husband and wife is reflected in the atmosphere of the household.

In a place where these 3 have priority, prosperity follows automatically! Any person who contributes to prosperity prospers in turn!

One who gives birth, one who brings closer (to the Lord, to spirituality - by means of initiating through the sacred thread ceremony), he who gives knowledge, he who gives food, he who protects from fear - these 5 are deemed as fathers.

Commentary:

In the course of life, one comes across many a relationships that command respect. Respect, for their contribution, towards the growth in many different facets of his life.

A 'father' is one such figure. A father is an instigator, invoker and a propeller! At different stages of life, one comes across such father figures, who command the same exact respect as one's own father, who gave him birth!

1. One who gave birth - is respectable for the very fact that he gave birth, then tended and nurtured the child, without whom the child would not even be existing.

2. 'upanetaa' - it literally means 'one who takes closer'. The context here is the 'upanayana' (the sacred thread ceremony). The thread ceremony is the initiation of one's learning. That is the first step one takes towards a spiritual way of life. He who counsels or guides one towards that path is a father figure and is hence revered.

3. He who gives knowledge - a preceptor, educates his pupil selflessly. He, to the best of his ability, teaches them right from wrong, equips them with the skill set for survival and prepares them for their onward journey of life. A father always wants his children to surpass him. Similarly, a true preceptor rejoices when his pupil excel him! Isn't he a respectable father figure as well?

4. He who gives food - helps one survive! When one is hungry, no amount of wealth can satiate his appetite. One who gives food, is giving him life! He is a father too.

5. He who protects from fear - quells one's insecurities and helps him overcome the hurdles of life. When one's fears are dispelled, he sees life in a new light! Such a person is respectable as a father.

A father is some who the children look up to, no matter how tall they have grown! One can not do anything to repay these people in any which way. All one can do is..., be indebted to them and revere them all. There is nothing in this world, by giving which, one can free himself from the debt of these 5 father figures. Only, he can pass on the legacy to his own children, pupil or the society around him, by being one such person himself!

In times of retreat, when in others' territory, in famine, in fear and in association with evil doers - he who runs, survives.

Commentary:

1. When the whole army is retreating, is it sane for a lone soldier to charge forward!

2. It is not a safe haven when one steps out of his boundaries and lands in others' property.

3. In times of a famine, if one can not fend himself and his family, what is the point in guarding the place?

4. When the opponent is much stronger and instills fear in the person, what is the point in marching on! When there is a lion in front, what if one says, 'I won't run away, because only cowards run'!?!

5. Company of the evil - this one's the worst of all. It does no good in any which way. Knowing that, if one hangs around, just so they don't call him a coward, doesn't make any sense.

In all these circumstances, if one steps back or runs away (keeps away), it is not called cowardice. It is called common sense :). Sometimes, taking that retreat is more appropriate than charging ahead.

Running away is not always cowardice, it is survival sometimes! So, survive!! :)

Laziness - doesn't motivate one to get up and dust himself down. Nothing can be achieved by being stagnant. Industriousness is the only way to success.

Procrastination - is the art of putting off something that should have been done the day before yesterday, until the day after tomorrow! This race of keeping up with yesterday, surely is the easiest way towards self sabotage.

He who gives up the certain and resorts to the temporary (attributes), his stable (attributes) shall perish, his impermanent ones are certainly lost.

Commentary:

It is like catching a mirage or a shadow! One works really hard, puts his best efforts and with all his heart, tries to capture the shadow. He is losing out on precious time for sure, he is not achieving his desire of capturing the shadow either. In the mean time, time passes, the sun sets. The shadow is lost for certain, in the mean time, the true object of desire is lost too, because he would have run out of time to put forth his efforts. At the end, he neither has the shadow nor the object :(.

Many such instances happen in day to day lives. In trying to win a small quarrel, one ends up losing the big battle! Many a times, there is no war at all. One would only be tending the hurts of his own ego and stirring up unrest unnecessarily.

Looking at the bigger picture, if one chases after the tentative material pleasures and gets entangled in the maayaa, the focus is lost and the life's purpose forgotten! Like the saying, 'Life is a mirage; It comes from no visible rain; It falls into no recognizable sea'. Winning over the mirage of maayaa is not an easy task!! One would have taken numerous births before getting anywhere close to winning. That makes it more of a reason to try harder with every given day, to keep the focus on the goal.

Sweetness of tone, clarity of syllables, isolation of words, proper intonation, confidence, accompanied with rhythm - these are the 6 attributes of a (good) reader.

Commentary:

1. A tenderness in the tone2. Accuracy of pronouncing each individual syllable3. Breaking up of words at the right places4. Appropriate tone of voice5. Poise and certainty in the reading6. Proper rhythm

- above 6 are the traits suitable to a good reader. These traits make one's reading clear, conveys the message accurately & makes the material he is reading, appealing. One must keep in mind, not to read with a harsh, coarse voice; not swallow up the syllables in a hurry; not fuse words together and give just enough pause between words; raise and drop the voice appropriately, depending on the bhaava (feeling) being expressed; the stride, voice and hold of the reader should reflect confidence in every step of the way; and, the reading should be paced aptly too. A good reader makes a good speaker.

Today a reader, tomorrow a leader! Acquire the right skills from the get go :).

Every day, one should study a verse or a half or a quarter or even a syllable. Never waste a day without contemplating and learning.

Commentary:

From learning to put the first steps, to talking the first words..., then from school to college, from college to masters degree...., every new day is a new life, new learning! After that, life stagnates, because..., learning stagnates! It is easy for people to succumb into their routines and mundane chores that, the love for learning can be lost from sight.

The reason is not the busy schedules, it is the prioritization! If learning is a top priority, one would find a way to set aside some time for learning regularly. Learning is beneficial in many ways. Not only does the knowledge base improve, it keeps the brain younger and sharper. There is no better way to whet the brain than keeping it active and alert!

The verse says, one should learn a verse, or half, or a quarter, or at least a syllable. One of the reasons is, all knowledge was passed on as verses those days, in one form or another. The very essence of life were captured and encapsulated into power packed verses. Learning them meant not just chanting them, but contemplating the meaning of those verses and applying them into daily lives. Life is precious and short at the same time. Not a single day should be wasted without learning and contemplating on the teachings extracted into those verses.

One should get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn! This means the whole lifetime. Someone very appropriately said, 'I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.' There is no ending to learning! Honestly, one life is too short a time for all the learning, contemplating and pondering that there is! So, keep thinking, keep learning, keep growing....

He who tends the body, desirous of seeing the soul, is trying to hold on to a crocodile to cross the river, thinking of it as a log!

Commentary:

Seeing the soul is the goal. But body is only a means to an end. It is not the goal itself. That is what is physically visible to the eye of perception. Soul is much more abstract and one needs to delve deeper in his vision to perceive it. It is very easy to get distracted in the beautification of the very visible body.

But the learned say, anyone who indulges himself in self beautification with the hope of seeing the soul, is fooling himself! It is just as sensible as one trying to ride on a crocodile with a delusion that it is a piece of log, in an attempt at crossing the river. Just because the rider is delude into thinking that the crocodile is a log, the crocodile shall strike, none the less! The journey shall not only prove dangerous, his path gets distracted as well.

Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul! For, diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body.

Intelligent people always equip children with varieties of integrities. Those with moral integrity and endowed with character, become worshiped in the clan.

Commentary:

The newest toys in the store, the latest gadgets in the market - are these really the things we need to equip children with? Watching television all day, playing video games in between - this becoming the trend of life, the children today are losing out on personal interactions, people skills and more essentially, moral values!

The verse says, people who are smart know that the only paraphernalia they need to arm their children with, is integrity. A sound moral ground provides varieties of integrities - being honest, working hard, compassion, patience, so the list goes on! Children with such background, become of solid character. It is they, who have a strong moral stance and a pronounced character, that come to be respected in the society. Knowing this chain of links, intelligent parents take those first steps right from the start.

Instead of pampering children with materials, if they are trained from younger days to respect and value people around them, they will be much better off later in life. Increase of material comforts, does not in any way whatsoever conduce moral growth.

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided them, but for the feeling that you cherished them and how well you equipped them to brace life, with confidence and respect!

Rain and sun shine are friends to the lotus stationed in its (own) place. They cause soaking and drying to the same lotus removed from its place.

Commentary:

A lotus, when in place, thrives on water and sunshine. Infact, it lives and grows in water. It blossoms with the sun rise and shuts close at sun set! Hence, water and sun can be considered as friends to a lotus.

If the same lotus is plucked from the plant and kept in the sun, it will dry out within no time. If put in water, it will get soggy and drenched. But wait, aren't these the same sun and water, that were friends of the lotus a minute ago, when it was still on the plant!

Well, that's the harsh reality of life!! Those who were friends once can turn into foes. When one is not holding his position, he loses his fan following! The more important lesson to be learnt here is, to stay put in one's own place. Place, here is not necessarily his designation or throne! Being oneself and performing duties with total dedication, is the true way of being in position. A husband has his position, a wife has her's. Similarly, mother, father and children, all have their positions, so on and so forth.... Each one needs to do complete justice to the position he/she holds. Only then does it make his/her position well held. Otherwise, circumstances and people that were once favorable, prove to be adverse suddenly!

When one pretends to be someone he is not, isn't he leaving his position - of being himself! Isn't it natural for him to face hardships like the lotus plucked out of the plant?

The easiest position to be in the world is - you. The most difficult thing is what other people want you to be. Do not let yourself be put in that position! Keep your spot. Then, you won't have to run from pole to wall, to be happy :).

Whose clan is blemishless, who is never afflicted by a disease, who has never attained adversity, whose happiness is unbroken?

Commentary:

Sore thumb of the family, one odd button, ... All families have one such person, whom others want to hide in the closet :). When everyone has someone like that in their own families, why be embarrassed of the one in your family.

There is no one who is in perfect health. At some point or the other, everyone would have suffered one health issue or another. Only beings are afflicted by diseases, not a log! It is a part and parcel of being a 'living' being :).

In the entire world, can anyone find a person, who has never seen an adversity in life? If he has seen no adversity, then, he has lived no life at all! Only when one sees hard times, does he truly appreciate and enjoy the value of all the blessing he has been bestowed with.

Extending the same argument, there is no one who has never seen good times in life. Along with that, comes the uncertainty of the pleasant time as well. There are no guarantees that his smooth sail will continue for ever. His ocean too shall break and the waves shall make his ship wobble, at one time or another.

Change, is the only thing that is constant! Change alone, isn't changing. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional! Why fret about shortcomings or cling on to possessions then? Neither is permanent!

All the (virtues earned, through) all kinds of giving, sacrificial rituals, fire sacrifices, oblations and other forms of worship diminish (over time). But the virtue earned by giving to a person in need - never diminishes.

Commentary:

Even the fruit of virtues can only go so far. They are exhaustible as well. Virtuous deeds can be of many genres. Performing sacrificial rituals, fire sacrifices, etc, have limited returns. But when a man in need is assisted, when in need, that never diminishes. The object given might perish over time. The giver may be gone, the receiver no more. But the feeling instilled in both the giver and the receiver, indeed flows through them to those around them. That is eternal! It is not just the fruit of the act, that stays for ever, but the inspiration. It inspires both the giver and the receiver to do good to those around them, any time they get an opportunity. That flow continues further and further.

In reality, it is not the receiver that is blessed, but the giver! He is the one that should be thankful for being given the opportunity to exercise the power of benevolence and hence become pure at heart.

Give with all your heart, when you have a chance. Real generosity towards the future lies in, giving all to the present!

There is no better giving than food and water; there is no time better than the twelfth day of the lunar month (dvaadashI); there is no formula of prayer better than the gaayatrI mantra; there is no deity better than mother.

Commentary:

Food and water are the best kinds of giving to a hungry man. No amount of wealth display can quench his thirst and hunger. Hence the statement 'annadaataa sukhIbhava' (giver of food, may you attain felicity), was coined.

Among all days of the month, the twelfth day of the lunar calendar is considered very auspicious. Any tasks undertaken on that day are bound to be fruitful.

'gaayatrI mantra' is deemed most sacred amongst all mantras. It is the mantra that instigates the intellect, which leads to all other realizations.

Mother is considered better than any other deity! All deities can not come and reside with each and every child born. Hence, the Lord appoints a mother to take his place in each home. It is the mother who tends the entire family, takes care of the smallest of their needs and protects them against any impending calamities. She puts her family as the first and foremost priority, ahead of her own needs. What works for one family may not be suitable for another. Mother knows exactly, what is best for her family. She is constantly working towards the betterment of her family.

Someone once said, 'the term -working mother- is redundant'! The term 'mother', by itself, says that she is 'working'!! She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she is not taking them along :).

Love thy mother as trees love water and sunshine, for, she nourishes you to grow, prosper and reach heights!

Oh king, 'dharma' if heard, or seen, or thought of, or spoken of, or approved of - cleanses a being always.

Commentary:

Any action should be justified as per dharma (virtue). There are many facets to any act or deed - hearing, seeing, thinking, speaking or even standing by as an approver.

Even if one hears, sees, thinks, speaks or approves of a virtuous deed, it cleanses him! Because, dharma is an attribute that should be in every single thought and action. There is no end to it. One can not say that I did dharma today, tomorrow I can take rest. It is a constant process and that is what is holding up the entire universe. Because the planets are following their dharma, because the 5 elements are following their dharma, because the sun, moon and stars are following their dharma, the universe is the way it is today. Suddenly one day, fire can't decide to be cold and water can't decide to burn!

Similarly, as beings, we have our own dharma. That needs to be upheld through every breath, eternally. Hence, if one partakes even in a small aspect of an act of dharma, it aids in purging his mind, clarifying his thought and purifying his actions. It reinforces to the being, the importance of following dharma and leads him in the right path towards his purpose of life!

The reward of virtue is, virtue alone. Sin is commitable in thought, word or deed. So is virtue! Choice is ours.

A tree rejuvenates, even when cut; the moon grows back even after waning - analyzing thus, the wise do not torment themselves during adversaries.

Commentary:

It is generally seen that any progress comes with a price. There are hurdles to be faced and regressions accepted along the way. It is easy to lose heart and give up on the endeavor. But the wise and tenacious do not let these short comings dishearten them. They are well aware of such scenarios and analyze the circumstances thus - a tree, even when pruned and chopped, has the vibrance in it, to give new shoots and rejuvenate its existence! The same moon that wanes during one half of the month, waxes and grows back during the other! Knowing these factors, they take the impending hurdles as temporary offsets and do not let themselves succumb to those hurdles. They do not torment themselves, but work towards making things better with every effort they can.

Keep the faith. No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life goes on and there will be a better tomorrow!

People intently look for the smallest of the faults in others. Just as one can not see the dirt in his own eyes, they can not see their own follies.

Commentary:

Finding faults in others is the easiest job and is up for taking by one and all! If one falters on the smallest thing, everyone around him will soon rush to point fingers at him and offer generous and free advise as well! People have microscopic vision when it comes to the short comings of others, but not even telescopic when it comes to themselves! They scrutinize others keenly to find more faults. But while they themselves are in the same exact circumstance, things just seem different to them. There always is a justification for their actions!

It is hard to take notice of anything close to one's own eye. The view gets obstructed and the field of view, constricted. Just as one can not see the dirt in his own eye, he is blinded to his own follies.

All people, to their own defects, are blind! Set thy sight and keep thy vision on thyself, with regard to mistakes.

Everything is achieved through our own efforts. See, no way can even food be available during a meal, without the effort of the hand in putting it into the mouth.

Commentary:

Without putting in effort, there is no result. Even in an action as simple as eating one's own food, the effort of the hand is essential for the food in the plate to reach his mouth. Nothing comes for free. The only place 'success' comes before 'work' is, the dictionary! (because 's' comes before 'w' ;). One has to work hard to achieve anything in life. Also, only then, does he understand the value of the results as well. Anything that is not hard earned, is easily taken for granted and squandered. When one understands the pain behind the gain, his attitude and approach towards life changes all together.

Knowing is not enough, one must apply. Willing is not enough, one must do!

A mother will never curse her child, no blemish will taint the earth, the noble do not harm others, God will not destroy his creation.

Commentary:

A mother does everything in her reach and beyond, to make he children better than she ever was. She will work beyond her means investing both her heart and effort. After all that, could she ever have the heart to curse her child. The best well wisher a child can ever have, is his mother!

Mother earth is considered as the most forgiving. No matter how man exploits, earth has the tolerance. Of late, we have been hearing, 'save the earth, save the earth', everywhere! Truth is, a few years from now, chances are, the earth will still be here. It is the human species that need the saving! It is all the beings on earth that need saving, not the earth itself. No amount of extortion will blemish the earth!

Those that are noble from the bottom of their hearts, will never inflict harm on others. They are ever compassionate and tirelessly work towards the betterment of those around them. How can such people involve themselves in hurting others.

Like wise, God never destroys his own creation! All the natural calamities, apocalypse, etc., might look like destruction. But in reality, there is something more beyond all these 'mundane occurrences' in His terms. He does anything with a higher good in mind. There is always something better to come one way or another. He will take care of everyone here and here on! Our ignorance about this fact doesn't mean that God is destroying His own creation! Just as a mother won't hurt her child, God, the creator of the whole universe and beyond, won't put a dent in his creation with a destructive intent.

Keep the faith. He is there to protect the smallest insect to the biggest creatures.

A being, even when pierced by a hundred arrows will not die if it is not his time. Come his time, he will not survive even the touch of a straw thorn.

Commentary:

It's all in good time! Each and every person or being, comes to this world carrying his very own baggage. He has to exhaust all his deeds and actions that are meant to be in that life. When the purpose of his life has not been achieved, no matter what happens, he is going to survive that. Time and again, we have heard or seen that some people survived the deadliest crash or came out of the worst epidemic, etc. These are examples of the very fact that their life's purpose is not attained yet. The verse says that if the time is not ripe yet, even if pierced by a hundred arrows, he will live through to see another sun rise.

On the contrary, if his assignment here is done, nothing or nobody has the capacity to hold him back. When his time is up, there is not even a reason that is needed. A hale and healthy person could drop dead and cold in an instant. Sometimes, a person who has survived the most impossible circumstances could pass on due to the most trivial of the reasons. He could trip on a pebble and die. Or, like the verse says, he could be pricked by a strand of hay and that could become the reason for his death. These are only 'nimitta maatra' (causes alone), as if, means to an end, to say figuratively and literally.

Hence, there is no point living in perpetual fear of death. There is nothing one can do about it. Shouldn't we live life to the fullest when we are alive! That's why someone once said, “If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.” Think about it....

Indulgence has many deficiencies, disciplining has many efficiencies. Hence, discipline children and students, do not indulge them.

Commentary:

Children do not have an idea of what is good and what is not, in all arenas. Sometimes, they do not have the vision to see tomorrow's repercussions due to their today's choices. Sometimes, they just want to test the limits. These happen due to obvious reasons. One, they are children and two, they lack the experience and knowledge required to make their decisions. Many a times, it is also seen that they do not have the firmness of mind to stick to their choices either. They suddenly want something else, just because they changed their mind!

As an adult, if the parents or a teacher start indulging in every single fancy of the child, there is no end to it. At the same time, the child will never learn the true value for the possessions he has either. He will learn to take things as well as people around him for granted. He will not be able to connect the bad outcomes to the bad choices he began with! His judgement will get clouded and he will be entrapped in a viscous cycle of failure as he grows up.

In that case, what good is achieved by indulging in the whims and fancies of the child? There are more qualms than qualities in such an upbringing!

Instead, if he is guided through his choices and the pros & cons of his actions, he will make better choice later in life. In doing so, sometimes, the adults may have to hold their stance and discipline the children firmly. The children will still try to test their, as well as, the parents' limits. It may be easier, at that moment, to yield and indulge the children. Then, on a longer run, children learn to be persuasive in order to get their ways. But will not learn the very essential, discipline. Problem is, if one doesn't discipline himself, the world will do it for him! Isn't it less painful to learn it themselves as children and not go through hardships later in life?

(Although 'taaDana' literally means 'spanking', it can be taken as 'discipline', because, the purpose of spanking in the earlier days, was to discipline!)

Teach children discipline through discipline. Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments. Equip thy children and students with this one essential skill.

Sorrow is involved in earning wealth, so also in protecting what is earned. Pain in gain, pain in loss..., alas, wealth is a resort for grief always.

Commentary:

One takes tremendous pains to accumulate wealth. He sacrifices many a dreams and joyous moments in life, lost in his quest of wealth. After undergoing all the hardships to accumulate the stash, then comes the burden and stress of protecting it. One goes to painstaking extents to make sure his earnings are safe and secure! It is seen time and again that the person is not even enjoying his possessions. He gets so engrossed in the aspect of earning and protecting that, he even forgets the purpose of all the hardships, which is - enjoying himself and making life nicer for those around him. Hence, wealth brings pain both when gained and lost. Alas, it is a source for grief under any circumstance!

One does not possess wealth, it possesses him! He is the richest who is content with the least, for, content is the wealth of nature!

As if taking after the example of a needle's fore and aft ends, the evil doer and good person (conduct themselves). One makes a hole and the other noble one, shuts it close.

Commentary:

When a needle is used to sow, the fore end of the needle makes a hole in the material so that it can get through. But as the needle passes out, the aft end - which carries a hole in itself (for the thread), closes the hole (in the material) behind it!

Similar is the conduct of an evil doer and a good person. An evil doer, to achieve his purpose and get through, would not hesitate to put a hole in something. He could be spoiling someone's belongings, someone's trust or worse, the resolve of another person. As long as his ends are met, he is unperturbed!

A good hearted being on the contrary, would take the hardships onto himself and at the same time, put someone else' misery to rest, silently. He doesn't blow a trumpet about his deeds but, contribute his best, quietly.

Isn't the difference between the two, exactly the same as the difference between the front and aft ends of a needle?

It is better to be good than evil. But one achieves goodness at a terrific cost :-).